Teyla made her way to the infirmary through bustling corridors, hoping she wouldn't find Sheppard there as she wasn't yet ready to face him. Quickly surveying the area, she realised he wasn't around, so made her way further into the room, seeking out Dr Keller. She found her checking one of her patient's medical records while adjusting their saline drip.

When she saw Teyla approaching, the doctor gave her a warm smile. 'Hi, Teyla. Here to check up on Elizabeth?' she asked.

'Yes...How is everyone here faring?' Teyla asked, looking around at the various occupied beds. Many of the patients bore minor cuts across their faces, but had been closer to the exploding window of the control tower than she, Rodney and Ronon had been, and so had suffered other more serious injuries as well – some internal traumas from the force of the blast, while others had eye injuries from flying glass that had required surgery to save their sight.

'Well, everyone's going to make it, but I can't guarantee a return to full health for all of them,' Keller said quietly, laying her hand on Teyla's back and steering her away from the main ward. 'Only time will tell.'

'And Elizabeth?'

Keller's smile grew more forced than usual. Teyla could immediately see the difference in her and it made her stomach sink. 'Well, she's a little unwell, but nothing serious,' the doctor admitted.

'How so?'

'At the moment, all signs suggest a simple virus, perhaps a cold or influenza. I'm just about to take her a dose of Oseltamivir to relieve some of the symptoms. But other than that, there isn't much I can do.'

'Could I take it to her?' Teyla offered. 'I would like to speak with her before she goes to sleep.'

'Er, of course. I'm sure she'll be glad of the company. You know where the suits are.'

Teyla considered it for a moment, but decided against collecting one. 'I might not wear one this time. I don't intend to go in there for long and since the nanites aren't spreading at all, I assume there's no risk.'

'No, none that I know of. In fact, I'm thinking of suggesting we lift the imposed isolation soon. I think the loneliness is really getting to her. With so much to do around Atlantis, people can't spare much time to sit with her. It's odd, but sometimes when I go in there, she barely speaks to me. I hope she doesn't blame me for all this.'

'I am sure that is not the case. I have been very lax with visiting her myself the past few days. I will be a better friend to her from now on.'

Keller gave her a sympathetic smile. 'Don't beat yourself up about it. There's a lot going on around here at the moment. Well, I'll get you the meds she needs and you can give them to her for me. I have to admit, there are other things I need to catch up on, so not having to stay with her will be a blessing this time.'

'I'll come back to you and let you know how she is doing,' Teyla promised, following her to the medicine cabinet.

'Well, you can if you want to, but there's no need. Colonel Sheppard has already insisted that we watch her round the clock, so we'll pick up anything we need to know about her condition from the surveillance cameras.'

Teyla was shocked at the news. No doubt if she hadn't spent the day avoiding him she would have know the colonel had ordered that, but even so, she was surprised he'd taken such action. It suggested he didn't trust Elizabeth, and John was always the one to give people the benefit of the doubt. 'Why has he ordered this?' she asked.

'Because of the illness. I think he's worried it's a symptom of something more sinister, but all signs seem to be saying it's all quite innocuous. I wouldn't let you in there if I thought any differently.'

'I'm sure you wouldn't, Doctor,' Teyla said, forcing on a smile. 'Colonel Sheppard is very protective of Elizabeth since her return. I'm sure he just wants the best of care for her.'

'Well, I won't argue with that. We all want her to get through this, and hopefully with some way for us to return her to normal.'

She handed Teyla the tiny plastic cup containing two tablets, then squeezed her shoulder and walked away. Teyla pondered her last words for a while longer, feeling guilty that she had to question whether she really did want Elizabeth to emerge from this unscathed. Yes, of course she did. No matter what it meant for her relationship with John, she wanted her friend to live. No one deserved to lose their mind to an occupying entity.

She hurried down the corridor to the isolation room, where one of the two marines posted outside activated the door for her. Inside, the room was darker than the last time she'd been there, the lighting subdued to ease the ache in Elizabeth's head, she assumed. The grey walls and dim lighting made the room feel even more cramped and oppressive than it actually was; Teyla couldn't help but be grateful she wasn't the one locked up in there. It was enough to sap the spirit from even the most positive of souls.

Elizabeth lay in her bed looking pale and tired, but perked up the moment she saw Teyla. 'Oh, at last. Someone who isn't going to turn me into a pin cushion,' she said, sitting up and hugging her bent knees to her chest.

'And I come bearing gifts,' Teyla quipped, holding up the medication for Elizabeth to see.

The relief was plain in her expression. 'Oh good, I was hoping it was that time again.'

Teyla set the plastic cup down on the stand beside Elizabeth's bed and backed off so she could pick them up. 'How are you feeling?'

Elizabeth tossed back the tablets, then took a drink from the glass of water also standing beside her bed. Teyla noticed that the jug next to the glass was empty, and made a mental note to take it to be refilled when she left. 'In all honesty...like a truck hit me,' Elizabeth replied. 'Dr Keller thinks I may have influenza. All I know is it feels like there are several bass drums pounding in my head most of the time. That's making it difficult to sleep, so...'

'I'm sorry to hear that, though relieved your sickness can be explained so easily,' Teyla said, affecting her most soothing tone.

Elizabeth nodded, leaning back against her pillows and laying her palm across her forehead. 'I know what you mean. I was terrified it might mean something far worse, so on this occasion, influenza is a welcome reprieve.'

Teyla pulled up a seat, though not too close, and sat down, letting Elizabeth know she intended to stay for a while.

Weir looked across at her. 'So, you choose today as the time to come in here without the hazmat suit? That's brave considering the germs flying around in this room.'

'Well, Human influenza has never affected me greatly in the past. I see no reason why this case should be different. Besides, those suits are uncomfortable; I simply promised Keller I would be careful not to touch you. Apparently, she is considering putting in a request to have your isolation lifted since the nanites appear to remain under the control of Dr McKay's programming.'

'Really? No one's told me that yet, but it's good to hear,' Elizabeth said, her mood noticeably brightening.

Teyla felt a prickle of guilt, wondering if she'd said too much letting Elizabeth in on that news. But she couldn't imagine that revelation posed any kind of security risk. 'I think everyone would be happy to see you out and about on the station again.'

'Perhaps...at least once this virus has cleared up,' Elizabeth laughed. 'Still, I'm going to be pretty limited in what I can do around here. To be honest, I'm worried the IOA will decide I should return to Earth.'

Teyla wished she could tell her Rodney was working on a way to heal her and shut down the nanites, but this time thought it might be too much information to share. If he couldn't find a way to make the nanites do what was required, she would have raised her friend's hopes unnecessarily. 'There is still much you can do to help aboard Atlantis. I'm certain they can find a useful role for you here. You have so much knowledge it would be a waste to send you back.'

'I hope you're right,' Elizabeth sighed. 'But the IOA have been known to make strange decisions before, and I'm not exactly their favourite person. They've probably had someone else lined up for my job for a while and will be glad for an excuse to be rid of me.'

'I believe there are members of the IOA who have great respect for you. They would be foolish to disregard what you still have to offer this expedition.'

'Hmmm...perhaps,' she mused. Then, she changed the subject. 'So, what have you been up to since I last saw you?'

'The usual. While we have no missions, I am keeping myself busy with Bantos training for anyone who is interested. I have also had requests for meditation lessons from several –'

Teyla noticed Elizabeth appeared to have drifted, her face slack and completely devoid of expression. It seemed she hadn't heard a word she'd said.

'Elizabeth, are you sure you are all right?'

After a few seconds, Elizabeth blinked and began to focus again. 'What...er, sorry. I lost my concentration there for a while.'

'So it would seem,' Teyla nodded. 'Would you like me to get Dr Keller for you?'

Elizabeth shook her head. 'No, I'm fine. Have you seen John today? He's been looking so tired lately...I'm really worried about him.'

Trying to hide the pain those words caused her, Teyla once again gave a strained smile, but she could feel it faltering even as she replied. 'I saw him earlier, but that was several hours ago now. I think he is feeling concerned about your situation, as we all are. Understandably, that and the additional responsibilities of sole leadership are leaving him somewhat tense.'

The room was silent for a while, as Elizabeth regarded her with her large, intelligent eyes. Teyla knew she had said too much. It was rare she ever said anything to suggest John was not operating at full capacity; he was the leader of her team, and she gave him her complete loyalty. But she was upset and wanted to talk to someone who might understand. As a woman who had argued with Sheppard a few times herself, she felt sure Elizabeth would appreciate her frustration.

'Is something wrong, Teyla?' Elizabeth's questioned confirmed what Teyla had thought; she'd given enough clues to let her know things were not running smoothly between them. 'Well...it is nothing serious. We just had a disagreement earlier and I decided it might be better to keep my distance for today.'

'Better for whom? You seem pretty upset,' Elizabeth asked, her brow puckering with concern.

Teyla fought back the tears threatening to spill, determined not to let her friend see just how upset their disagreement had left her. 'I am fine...really. As everyone else, I am simply stressed and exhausted after the events of the past few days.'

'What did you argue about?'

Teyla rolled her eyes to the ceiling and sighed. 'It was foolishness on both our parts, really. At breakfast this morning, Kate asked the colonel to sit with her and it seems she tried to offer him professional support.'

'That won't have gone down too well,' Elizabeth breathed, arching an eyebrow. 'But how did that cause an argument between the two of you?'

'He thought I had asked Kate to speak with him because I value her so much myself.'

'Oh, I see. So he assumed you were to blame and took you to task?'

Teyla nodded, wringing her hands between her knees. 'Yes. And then I also over-reacted...I'm afraid we both said things that hurt each of us.'

'Well, I wish I could say I didn't know what that felt like, but I've been there a few times myself. I'm sure he's sorry for jumping to the wrong conclusion, Teyla. John trusts you implicitly – I know that from discussions we've had in the past. But sometimes it's easier to take our frustrations out on the people we're most comfortable with because we know they're the most likely to forgive us.'

'I'm not sure I understand...' Teyla murmured, a frown creasing her brow.

'Well, we humans are an odd bunch. We tend to feel safer hurting the people we feel closest to when we're struggling ourselves because in our hearts we know they'll forgive us. The fact John chose you to vent at could well mean he trusts you to understand him the most.'

Elizabeth's explanation lightened Teyla's heavy heart. Her point seemed to be made genuinely enough, and now she had explained it, it seemed to fit the colonel's complex emotional state. Perhaps he did have strong feelings for her, but as for whether the fact he had chosen to vent at her made her the person he cared about most was still something she doubted. It was only after giving it some consideration she realised Elizabeth was now crying.

'Elizabeth! What is it?' she gasped, sitting forward on her seat and fighting the urge to rush to give her comfort.

'I don't even know why I'm crying. It's so hard being like this; one moment I'm fine, the next I'm a hopeless wreck,' she sniffed, struggling to regain her composure. 'I used to being the one people came to with their problems. Even John talked things through with me...not personal issues, of course, but other things that were on his mind. I've lost count of the number of times he and I stood out on the balcony overlooking the ocean and discussed our day. No one trusts me anymore...and with good cause. I can't believe this is my life now...staring at four grey walls...depending on the kindness of people already too stretched for time for company. I wish Rodney had never activated these damned nanites. Oh...oh...I'm out of Kleenex!'

Teyla located a handkerchief in one of her pockets and laid it on the nightstand. 'Here, use this.'

Thanking her, Elizabeth dried her tears as best she could. 'I'm sorry, Teyla. I shouldn't be off-loading like this when you have enough problems of your own. I'm being incredibly selfish.'

'Not at all,' Teyla soothed, wishing she could reach out and take hold of her hand. Part of her was angry that she didn't just do it knowing the restriction was likely to be lifted soon, but another part of her recognised that Elizabeth herself would probably prevent her from doing so. 'It is I who have been selfish coming to you with this issue when you have so much more to worry about.'

Elizabeth shook her head vehemently. 'No. Don't think like that. Your coming here actually makes me feel more normal. I haven't felt that way for days now.'

Feeling terrible that she could ever have wished Elizabeth out of their lives, Teyla tried to find something to say that would ease her pain. 'Rodney meant only the best for you. He intended to have the nanites repair you and shut down, but when you suddenly deteriorated he had to change their programming. None of us would have wished this situation on you. You must hold on to the hope that at some time, someone will be able to find a way to rid you of them.'

Nodding, Elizabeth sniffed back tears, her eyes puffy and her face still pale. She pinched the bridge of her nose as if her head was still troubling her. 'You're right, Teyla. There are plenty of smart people who can probably figure a way to solve this for me eventually. Right now, I should just be grateful I have that opportunity, and if I didn't feel so lousy, I'm sure I would be more comfortable about all this.'

'Much as you crave company, it seems to me that the thing you need most now is rest,' Teyla said calmly, giving her a sympathetic smile. 'You should sleep now and I promise to stop by again later to check up on you.'

Pushing her hair back from her face and wiping the last few tears from beneath her eyes, Elizabeth smiled sadly back at her. 'I think you may be right, Teyla. I am exhausted.'

Teyla stood and pushed her chair back to the side of the room, then collected up the empty water jug from beside Elizabeth's bed. 'I will ask someone to refill this for you,' she said.

'Oh, here,' Elizabeth replied, laying the handkerchief down for her to pick up. 'You should take this back. It's far too pretty to waste on my self-pity. Just ask whoever brings the water to bring me a box of Kleenex, too, would you?'

'Of course. Rest now; I'll make sure you get everything you need.'

As she left the room and walked down the corridor she felt the dampness of Elizabeth's tears in the embroidered cloth Charan had given to her when she had visited her shortly before her death. She had shed many tears upon it herself when she'd lost the old woman, but it felt right that she had shared something so important to her with her friend. She might not be able to embrace her, but she hoped the gesture had made Elizabeth realise that she cared.

And as she headed back to the infirmary, the nanites that had broken loose and left their host via Elizabeth's tears burrowed through her skin, so tiny she could not feel a thing as they invaded her body and began to use her system's natural resources to replicate and spread throughout her...